Rheta A. Smith, 78, of Jacksonville, passed away Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at the South Baldwin Regional Medical Center in Foley, Ala., with her family by her side.
She was born Nov. 23, 1933, in Loami, the daughter of Russell and Grace Johnson Hovey. She married John E. Smith on Dec. 23, 1952, at Union Baptist Church near Pisgah, and he survives.
She is also survived by four children, Robin (husband, Neil) Snelling, Rusty Smith, Doug (wife, Christy) Smith and Susan (husband, Timm) Pennell, all of Jacksonville; nine grandchildren, Matt (wife, Aimee) Snelling, Ally and Andy Smith, Brandon (wife, Heather) and Andrew Miller, Adam Logue and Holly, Ethan and Dillon Pennell; four great-granddaughters, Grace and Katie Snelling, Amelia Pennell and Taylor Miller; four sisters, Virginia Edwards of Springfield, Joyce (husband, Jim) Crawford of Springfield, Martha Pippin of Greenview and Kay (husband, Larry) Price of Springfield; several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, Roger D. Hovey (surviving wife, Janet of Springfield).
She graduated from Franklin High School in 1952. She worked for Jacksonville School District 117 for 25 years, most of those years as the school secretary at North Jacksonville Elementary. She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Jacksonville. She was a loving wife, devoted mother and doting grandmother. She and John enjoyed spending their winters in Florida and their summers at the lake. When her children needed her, she was always there to give her love and support. She was the #1 Fan at each of her grandchildren's sporting and school events. Rheta cherished her friends and family. She looked forward to her monthly "sisters luncheon," enjoyed keeping in touch with her high school girlfriends, loved getting together with the same bunco group for over 50 years and playing Scrabble, cards or lawn games with the many friends she made while camping and traveling.
Services were entrusted to Williamson Funeral Home of Jacksonville, Illinois.
She was born Nov. 23, 1933, in Loami, the daughter of Russell and Grace Johnson Hovey. She married John E. Smith on Dec. 23, 1952, at Union Baptist Church near Pisgah, and he survives.
She is also survived by four children, Robin (husband, Neil) Snelling, Rusty Smith, Doug (wife, Christy) Smith and Susan (husband, Timm) Pennell, all of Jacksonville; nine grandchildren, Matt (wife, Aimee) Snelling, Ally and Andy Smith, Brandon (wife, Heather) and Andrew Miller, Adam Logue and Holly, Ethan and Dillon Pennell; four great-granddaughters, Grace and Katie Snelling, Amelia Pennell and Taylor Miller; four sisters, Virginia Edwards of Springfield, Joyce (husband, Jim) Crawford of Springfield, Martha Pippin of Greenview and Kay (husband, Larry) Price of Springfield; several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, Roger D. Hovey (surviving wife, Janet of Springfield).
She graduated from Franklin High School in 1952. She worked for Jacksonville School District 117 for 25 years, most of those years as the school secretary at North Jacksonville Elementary. She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Jacksonville. She was a loving wife, devoted mother and doting grandmother. She and John enjoyed spending their winters in Florida and their summers at the lake. When her children needed her, she was always there to give her love and support. She was the #1 Fan at each of her grandchildren's sporting and school events. Rheta cherished her friends and family. She looked forward to her monthly "sisters luncheon," enjoyed keeping in touch with her high school girlfriends, loved getting together with the same bunco group for over 50 years and playing Scrabble, cards or lawn games with the many friends she made while camping and traveling.
Services were entrusted to Williamson Funeral Home of Jacksonville, Illinois.
Rheta A. Smith, 78, of Jacksonville, passed away Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at the South Baldwin Regional Medical Center in Foley, Ala., with her family by her side.
She was born Nov. 23, 1933, in Loami, the daughter of Russell and Grace Johnson Hovey. She married John E. Smith on Dec. 23, 1952, at Union Baptist Church near Pisgah, and he survives.
She is also survived by four children, Robin (husband, Neil) Snelling, Rusty Smith, Doug (wife, Christy) Smith and Susan (husband, Timm) Pennell, all of Jacksonville; nine grandchildren, Matt (wife, Aimee) Snelling, Ally and Andy Smith, Brandon (wife, Heather) and Andrew Miller, Adam Logue and Holly, Ethan and Dillon Pennell; four great-granddaughters, Grace and Katie Snelling, Amelia Pennell and Taylor Miller; four sisters, Virginia Edwards of Springfield, Joyce (husband, Jim) Crawford of Springfield, Martha Pippin of Greenview and Kay (husband, Larry) Price of Springfield; several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, Roger D. Hovey (surviving wife, Janet of Springfield).
She graduated from Franklin High School in 1952. She worked for Jacksonville School District 117 for 25 years, most of those years as the school secretary at North Jacksonville Elementary. She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Jacksonville. She was a loving wife, devoted mother and doting grandmother. She and John enjoyed spending their winters in Florida and their summers at the lake. When her children needed her, she was always there to give her love and support. She was the #1 Fan at each of her grandchildren's sporting and school events. Rheta cherished her friends and family. She looked forward to her monthly "sisters luncheon," enjoyed keeping in touch with her high school girlfriends, loved getting together with the same bunco group for over 50 years and playing Scrabble, cards or lawn games with the many friends she made while camping and traveling.
Services were entrusted to Williamson Funeral Home of Jacksonville, Illinois.
She was born Nov. 23, 1933, in Loami, the daughter of Russell and Grace Johnson Hovey. She married John E. Smith on Dec. 23, 1952, at Union Baptist Church near Pisgah, and he survives.
She is also survived by four children, Robin (husband, Neil) Snelling, Rusty Smith, Doug (wife, Christy) Smith and Susan (husband, Timm) Pennell, all of Jacksonville; nine grandchildren, Matt (wife, Aimee) Snelling, Ally and Andy Smith, Brandon (wife, Heather) and Andrew Miller, Adam Logue and Holly, Ethan and Dillon Pennell; four great-granddaughters, Grace and Katie Snelling, Amelia Pennell and Taylor Miller; four sisters, Virginia Edwards of Springfield, Joyce (husband, Jim) Crawford of Springfield, Martha Pippin of Greenview and Kay (husband, Larry) Price of Springfield; several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, Roger D. Hovey (surviving wife, Janet of Springfield).
She graduated from Franklin High School in 1952. She worked for Jacksonville School District 117 for 25 years, most of those years as the school secretary at North Jacksonville Elementary. She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Jacksonville. She was a loving wife, devoted mother and doting grandmother. She and John enjoyed spending their winters in Florida and their summers at the lake. When her children needed her, she was always there to give her love and support. She was the #1 Fan at each of her grandchildren's sporting and school events. Rheta cherished her friends and family. She looked forward to her monthly "sisters luncheon," enjoyed keeping in touch with her high school girlfriends, loved getting together with the same bunco group for over 50 years and playing Scrabble, cards or lawn games with the many friends she made while camping and traveling.
Services were entrusted to Williamson Funeral Home of Jacksonville, Illinois.
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